Intelligent Mechanism to Automatically Discover and Notify a Potential Participant of a Teleconference

ABSTRACT

Notifying an identified person of a teleconference is provided. Data corresponding to an audio record of the teleconference is received during the teleconference. Pattern recognition is performed on the data during the teleconference. In response to recognizing in the data a pattern corresponding to an identification of the identified person during the teleconference, a device associated with the identified person is contacted during the teleconference. A response related to the audio record is received from the device.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/259,783,filed Oct. 28 2008, status allowed.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention provides for an improved method of communication.In particular, the present invention provides for an improved methodcomputer program product and data processing system for contactingindividuals mentioned or identified during a live teleconference.

2. Description of the Related Art

During teleconferences or other meetings, mention may be made ofindividuals that are not present at the teleconference or meeting. Insome cases, attendance of these identified individuals would be useful,desirable, or necessary. These identified individuals can be describedas identified persons. The term “identified person” does not necessarilyimply that the person is, key, necessary, or somehow critical to themeeting.

Currently, the only method of notifying an identified person that theirattendance is desired or required is for one of the attendees, or someother person, to contact the identified person so that the identifiedperson can join the teleconference. However, this method of contactingthe identified person is relatively inefficient, and possibly disruptiveof the teleconference.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The illustrative embodiments provide a method, computer program product,and data processing system for notifying an identified person of ateleconference. Data corresponding to an audio record of theteleconference is received during the teleconference. Patternrecognition is performed on the data during the teleconference. Inresponse to recognizing in the data a pattern corresponding to anidentification of the identified person during the teleconference, adevice associated with the identified person is contacted during theteleconference. A response related to the audio record is received fromthe device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the illustrativeembodiments are set forth in the appended claims. The illustrativeembodiments, themselves, as well as a preferred mode of use, furtherobjectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by referenceto the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network of data processing systems inwhich the illustrative embodiments of the present invention may beimplemented;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a data processing system in whichillustrative embodiments of the present invention may be implemented;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a teleconference in accordance with anillustrative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for contacting an identified personduring a teleconference in accordance with an illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for contacting an identified personduring a teleconference in accordance with an illustrative embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the figures and in particular with reference toFIGS. 1-2, exemplary diagrams of data processing environments areprovided in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. It shouldbe appreciated that FIGS. 1-2 are only exemplary and are not intended toassert or imply any limitation with regard to the environments in whichdifferent embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to thedepicted environments may be made.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network of data processing systems, inwhich the illustrative embodiments of the present invention may beimplemented. Network data processing system 100 is a network ofcomputers in which the illustrative embodiments may be implemented.Network data processing system 100 contains network 102, which is themedium used to provide communications links between various devices andcomputers connected together within network data processing system 100.Network 102 may include connections, such as wire, wirelesscommunication links, or fiber optic cables.

In the depicted example, server 104 and server 106 connect to network102 along with storage unit 108. In addition, clients 110, 112, and 114connect to network 102. Clients 110, 112, and 114 may be, for example,personal computers or network computers. In the depicted example, server104 provides data, such as boot files, operating system images, andapplications to clients 110, 112, and 114. Clients 110, 112, and 114 areclients to server 104 in this example. Network data processing system100 may include additional servers, clients, and other devices notshown.

In the depicted example, network data processing system 100 is theInternet with network 102 representing a worldwide collection ofnetworks and gateways that use the Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite of protocols to communicatewith one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone ofhigh-speed data communication lines between major nodes or hostcomputers, consisting of thousands of commercial, governmental,educational and other computer systems that route data and messages. Ofcourse, network data processing system 100 also may be implemented as anumber of different types of networks, such as for example, an intranet,a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN). FIG. 1 isintended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation for thedifferent illustrative embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a data processing system, in whichillustrative embodiments of the present invention may be implemented.Data processing system 200 is an example of a computer, such as server104 or client 110 in FIG. 1, in which computer usable program code orinstructions implementing the processes may be located for theillustrative embodiments. In this illustrative example, data processingsystem 200 includes communications fabric 202, which providescommunications between processor unit 204, memory 206, persistentstorage 208, communications unit 210, input/output (I/O) unit 212, anddisplay 214.

Processor unit 204 serves to execute instructions for software that maybe loaded into memory 206. Processor unit 204 may be a set of one ormore processors or may be a multi-processor core, depending on theparticular implementation. Further, processor unit 204 may beimplemented using one or more heterogeneous processor systems in which amain processor is present with secondary processors on a single chip. Asanother illustrative example, processor unit 204 may be a symmetricmulti-processor system containing multiple processors of the same type.

Memory 206, in these examples, may be, for example, a random accessmemory or any other suitable volatile or non-volatile storage device.Persistent storage 208 may take various forms depending on theparticular implementation. For example, persistent storage 208 maycontain one or more components or devices. For example, persistentstorage 208 may be a hard drive, a flash memory, a rewritable opticaldisk, a rewritable magnetic tape, or some combination of the above. Themedia used by persistent storage 208 also may be removable. For example,a removable hard drive may be used for persistent storage 208.

Communications unit 210, in these examples, provides for communicationswith other data processing systems or devices. In these examples,communications unit 210 is a network interface card. Communications unit210 may provide communications through the use of either or bothphysical and wireless communications links.

Input/output unit 212 allows for input and output of data with otherdevices that may be connected to data processing system 200. Forexample, input/output unit 212 may provide a connection for user inputthrough a keyboard and mouse. Further, input/output unit 212 may sendoutput to a printer. Display 214 provides a mechanism to displayinformation to a user.

Instructions for the operating system and applications or programs arelocated on persistent storage 208. These instructions may be loaded intomemory 206 for execution by processor unit 204. The processes of thedifferent embodiments may be performed by processor unit 204 usingcomputer implemented instructions, which may be located in a memory,such as memory 206. These instructions are referred to as program code,computer usable program code, or computer readable program code that maybe read and executed by a processor in processor unit 204. The programcode in the different embodiments may be embodied on different physicalor tangible computer readable storage media, such as memory 206 orpersistent storage 208.

Program code 216 is located in a functional form on computer readablemedia 218 that is selectively removable and may be loaded onto ortransferred to data processing system 200 for execution by processorunit 204. Program code 216 and computer readable media 218 form computerprogram product 220 in these examples. In one example, computer readablemedia 218 may be in a tangible form, such as, for example, an optical ormagnetic disc that is inserted or placed into a drive or other devicethat is part of persistent storage 208 for transfer onto a storagedevice, such as a hard drive that is part of persistent storage 208. Ina tangible form, computer readable media 218 also may take the form of apersistent storage, such as a hard drive, a thumb drive, or a flashmemory that is connected to data processing system 200. The tangibleform of computer readable media 218 is referred to as computer readablestorage media. In some instances, computer readable media 218 may not beremovable.

Alternatively, program code 216 may be transferred to data processingsystem 200 from computer readable media 218 through a communicationslink to communications unit 210 and/or through a connection toinput/output unit 212. The communications link and/or the connection maybe physical or wireless in the illustrative examples. The computerreadable media also may take the form of non-tangible media, such ascommunications links or wireless transmissions containing the programcode.

The different components illustrated for data processing system 200 arenot meant to provide architectural limitations to the manner in whichdifferent embodiments may be implemented. The different illustrativeembodiments may be implemented in a data processing system includingcomponents in addition to or in place of those illustrated for dataprocessing system 200. Other components shown in FIG. 2 can be variedfrom the illustrative examples shown.

As one example, a computer readable storage device in data processingsystem 200 is any hardware apparatus that may store data. Memory 206 andpersistent storage 208 are examples of computer readable storage devicesin a tangible form.

In another example, a bus system may be used to implement communicationsfabric 202 and may be comprised of one or more buses, such as a systembus or an input/output bus. Of course, the bus system may be implementedusing any suitable type of architecture that provides for a transfer ofdata between different components or devices attached to the bus system.Additionally, a communications unit may include one or more devices usedto transmit and receive data, such as a modem or a network adapter.Further, a memory may be, for example, memory 206 or a cache such asfound in an interface and memory controller hub that may be present incommunications fabric 202.

The illustrative embodiments of the present invention provide for amethod, a computer program product, and data processing system fornotifying an identified person of the teleconference. Data correspondingto an audio record of the teleconference is received during theteleconference. Pattern recognition is performed on the data during theteleconference. In response to recognizing in the data a patterncorresponding to an identification of the identified person during theteleconference, a device associated with the identified person iscontacted during the teleconference. A response related to the audiorecord is received from the device. Thus, the illustrative embodimentsprovide for a method of automatically identifying and then notifying anidentified person.

In the illustrative example shown in FIG. 3, several attendees areparticipating in a telephone conference via network 302. Network 302 canbe network 102 described in FIG. 1. The teleconference shown in FIG. 3can be implemented via a server, such as server 300. Server 300 can be,for example, server 104 or server 106 shown in FIG. 1.

In this illustrative example, attendee 304 is participating in theteleconference via communication device 306, attendee 308 is attendingthe teleconference via communication device 310, and attendee 312 isattending the teleconference via communication device 314. During theteleconference, the name or other identification of identified person316 is spoken aloud. Other identification can be an employeeidentification number, social security number, or any other form ofidentification. Alternatively, the name or identification of identifiedperson 316, can be input via any one of communication device 306,communication device 310, or communication device 314, and thencecommunicated via network 302 to server 300.

In this particular illustrative example, the name of identified person316 is spoken aloud. Speech pattern recognition software executing onserver 300, which is monitoring the teleconference, recognizes the nameof identified person 316. As a result, server 300 contacts communicationdevice 318, which is associated with identified person 316.

A communication device is associated with identified person 316 if thatcommunication device is assigned to identified person 316, is owned byidentified person 316, or is otherwise associated with or used byidentified person 316. Communication device 318 can take many forms. Forexample, communication device 318 can be a data processing systemexecuting an instant messaging system. Similarly, communication device318 can be a data processing system executing an email program. In thiscase, the notification takes the form of an email. Communication device318 can also be a mobile communication device, such as a cell phone orother mobile communication device. In this case, the notification cantake the form of a text message, or an actual phone call with an audiorecording informing identified person 316 that identified person 316 isdesired or required in the teleconference.

At this point, identified person 316 can respond to the notification inmany ways. In an illustrative example, communication device 318 is amobile phone. In this case, identified person 316 can dial into network302 in order to join the teleconference. The phone number associatedwith the teleconference can be transmitted via the recorded phonemessage sent to identified person 316, the text message, the email, orthe instant message sent to identified person 316.

In another illustrative embodiment of the present invention, identifiedperson 316 can respond by sending an email, instant message, textmessage, or voice message to server 300. Server 300 can then forward theresponse to any one or all of the attendees, or possibly to a thirdparty. In this case, the response can take many different formats, suchas an indication that identified person 316 will attend shortly, willnot attend the meeting, or will be able to attend late. Additionally,the response can possibly take the form of more complex communications,such as instructions regarding a particular project, answers toquestions posed by any one of attendee 304, attendee 308, or attendee312, or possibly other messages. In an illustrative embodiment of thepresent invention, identified person 316 can respond to the notificationby pressing a button on communication device 318 in order to send a toneto server 300. Server 300 can recognize different tones as correspondingto different responses. For example, tones can be provided forindicating that the identified person will join shortly, that theidentified person cannot attend, that the identified person will belate, or possibly other predetermined responses.

The illustrative process described with respect to FIG. 3 can be furthermodified. For example, if the name of identified person 316 is mentionedmore than a predetermined number of times, then the notification systemmay try to contact the member via different methods in a particularpriority. For example, server 300 could first attempt to contactidentified person 316 via instant message and, failing that, attempt tocontact identified person 316 via email and, failing that, attempt tocommunication with person 316 via a text message and, failing that,attempt to communicate with identified person 316 via a phone call to amobile communication device associated with identified person 316. Theorder of these attempts can be varied. Server 300 can also attempt tocommunicate with identified person 316 via different methods, possiblyin a predetermined priority as soon as the name of identified person316, or other identification, is mentioned or input.

In another illustrative embodiment, tagging information can be added toa recording of the teleconference such that the teleconference can beintegrated and converted into a podcast. Thus, the illustrativeembodiments of the present invention can be used to convert the audiorecording of the teleconference into data, save the data, and thentransmit the data to a mobile communication device or other dataprocessing system associated with identified person 316. In this case,identified person 316 can use communication device 318 to listen to theteleconference in real time, whether or not identified person 316 canrespond or communicate with the other attendees of the teleconference.

Additional tags or tagging information can be used to activate theillustrative embodiments of the present invention; that is, to specifywhether or when an identified person will be contacted. For example, ifthe tag, tag name, or other identifier is not spoken aloud during theteleconference, then mention of the name or other identifier of theidentified person will not result in that identified person beingcontacted. However, if the tag is spoken out loud, then the patternrecognition software will recognize the tag has been spoken. As aresult, the feature of contacting the identified person (or possiblymultiple identified persons) will be activated. In this manner,accidental notification of an identified person can be avoided, if notdesired.

Similarly, server 300 can use the speech pattern recognition software toconvert an audio recording of the teleconference into text format. Thetranscribed teleconference can then be transmitted to communicationdevice 318 of identified person 316.

In another illustrative embodiment, pattern recognition software onserver 300 can be triggered to execute based on a rules mechanism. Forexample any one of attendee 304, attendee 308, or attendee 312 couldsend a message to server 300 to cause server 300 to begin speech patternrecognition. Alternatively, identified person 316 can independentlycause server 300 to begin speech pattern recognition on predetermined orknown teleconferences. Note that server 300 stores or has access tocontact information for identified person 316.

The illustrative embodiments can also be expanded to include multipleidentified persons. In addition, the illustrative embodiments of thepresent invention can be expanded to allow different access rights ofdifferent identified persons based on the identity of those identifiedpersons, based upon predetermined rules, or based upon rules specifiedby any one of attendee 304, attendee 308, or attendee 312.

Thus, the illustrative embodiments shown in FIG. 3 provide for a methodwhere individuals who are not on a teleconference, but wish toparticipate in the teleconference, can contribute to a teleconference orotherwise monitor a teleconference. In particular, a user can benotified if the user's name is mentioned or input during ateleconference, or possibly during a face-to-face meeting that ismonitored by server 300.

In an illustrative example, an identified person who wishes to keeptrack of one or more teleconferences can subscribe to a service. Basedon this subscription, an alert can be sent to the identified person whenthe name or identification of the identification is mentioned or inputduring the one or more teleconferences.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for contacting an identified personduring a teleconference, in accordance with an illustrative embodimentof the present invention. The process shown in FIG. 4 can be implementedin a data processing system, such as server 102 or server 104, or client110, client 112, or client 114 shown in FIG. 1, or data processingsystem 200 shown in FIG. 2. The process shown in FIG. 4 can beimplemented using the devices described with respect to FIG. 3. Inparticular, the process shown in FIG. 4 can be implemented using aserver, such as server 300 in FIG. 3, which monitors a teleconference.

The process begins as a server executes pattern recognition software onvoices during a teleconference (step 400). The pattern recognitionsoftware executing on the server then determines whether anidentification of an identified person has been made (step 402). Asdescribed above, an identified person is an individual that may beinterested in the teleconference, may be a desired participant of theteleconference, may be a desired monitor of the teleconference, or maybe required at the teleconference.

If identification of the identified person has not been made, (a nodetermination to step 402), then the process returns to step 400 andrepeats. Otherwise, (a yes determination to step 402), the processpossibly splits along two different paths. Along one path, the processpossibly proceeds to step 412, possibly in parallel with step 404. Inany case, the server contacts a communication device of the identifiedperson (step 404).

The server then determines whether the identified person responds (step406). If the identified person does not respond, (a no determination tostep 406), then the server determines whether communication options havebeen exhausted (step 408). Communication options are consideredexhausted when all methods of communicating with the identified personhave been tried and failed. If the communication options have not beenexhausted, (a no determination to step 408), then the process returns tostep 404 and repeats. Otherwise, (a yes determination to step 408), orin response to a yes determination at step 406, the server conveys aresponse to one or more attendees of the teleconference (step 410).

The server then determines whether to store or transmit theteleconference (step 412). This step can also occur simultaneously afteridentification of the identified person has been made. In this way, theidentified person will not miss out on portions of the teleconferencethat occur while server 300 is attempting to contact the identifiedperson.

If the server is to store or transmit the teleconference, (a yesdetermination to step 412), then the server stores a recording ortranscription of the teleconference and transmits recording ortranscription to the identified person (step 414). The process thenterminates. The process also terminates if the server is not to storeand transmit the teleconference, (a no determination to step 412).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for contacting an identified personduring a teleconference, in accordance with an illustrative embodimentof the present invention. The process shown in FIG. 5 can be implementedin a data processing system such as server 102 or server 104, or client110, client 112, or client 114 shown in FIG. 1, or data processingsystem 200 shown in FIG. 2. The process shown in FIG. 5 can beimplemented using the devices described with respect to FIG. 3. Inparticular, the process shown in FIG. 5 can be implemented using aserver, such as server 300 in FIG. 3, which monitors a teleconference.

The process begins as the server receives data corresponding to an audiorecord of the teleconference (step 500). The server then performspattern recognition on the data (step 502). The server then determineswhether recognition is made in the data of a pattern corresponding to anidentified person (step 504).

In the case of a no determination to step 504, the server continues tomonitor the teleconference (step 506). The process then returns to step500 and repeats.

In response to a yes determination at step 504, that is, a patterncorresponding to an identified person is recognized in the data, theserver contacts a device associated with the identified person (step508). The server then receives a response from the device (step 510).The response is related to the audio record. The term “related to theaudio record” means that the response is in some way concerned with thesubject matter presented in the audio record, or is in some wayconcerned with the audio record's existence or with the computer file orfiles that makes up audio. In any case, the server conveys the responseto a second device associated with at least one other attendee of theteleconference (step 512). The term “second device” means a device thatis different than the first device. A second device may be associatedwith the at least one other attendee, in the same manner that the firstdevice is associated with the identified person. However, in anotherillustrative embodiment of the present invention, a second device may beassociated with a person who is not participating in, or involved with,the teleconference. Thus, the entire process of recognizing anidentified person, contacting the identified person, receiving aresponse, and conveying the response to a second person could all takeplace without the knowledge of one or more conference attendees. Thisfeature would be useful, for example, in the embodiment of a customerservice call in which a customer mentions a term such as “manager.” Inthis case, the server recognizes that the term “manager” has beenspoken. The server then informs a manager that his or her attention isrequired on the call, but without informing the customer servicerepresentative, the customer, or both that the manager has beennotified.

In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the response canbe a message recorded prior to initiation of the teleconference. Thisembodiment allows a user who expects to be mentioned during theteleconference to provide a pre-recorded message to be played uponmention of the identified person's, or upon the mention of some otherpre-determined passcode or identification phrase. In this case, and theidentified person need not join the teleconference. In contrast, in another illustrative embodiment of the present invention, contacting,receiving, and conveying are all performed during the teleconference.

Returning to FIG. 5, the server then records the teleconference (step514). Additionally, the server saves the teleconference (step 516), andthen replays the teleconference as a podcast on the device associatedwith the identified person (step 518). The process terminatesthereafter.

The illustrative embodiments of the present invention provide for acomputer-implemented method, computer program product, and dataprocessing system for notifying an identified person of ateleconference. Data corresponding to an audio record of theteleconference is received. Pattern recognition is performed on thedata. Responsive to recognizing in the data a pattern or tag wordscorresponding to an identification of the identified person, a deviceassociated with the identified person is contacted.

Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented entirely inhardware, entirely in software or using a combination of both hardwareand software elements. In one embodiment, the invention is implementedin software, including but not being limited to firmware, residentsoftware, microcode, or the like.

Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer programproduct accessible from a computer usable or computer readable storagemedium providing program code for use by or in connection with acomputer or any instruction execution system. For the purposes of thisdescription, a computer usable or computer readable storage medium isany physical apparatus that stores the program for use by or inconnection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.The computer usable or computer readable storage medium excludes apropagation medium, such as a signal or carrier wave.

The computer usable or computer readable storage medium is, for example,an electronic, magnetic, optical, or semiconductor system (or apparatusor device). Examples of a computer usable or computer readable storagemedium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, aremovable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-onlymemory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Currentexamples of optical disks include compact disk-read only memory(CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectlyto memory elements through a communication medium (e.g., a system bus).The memory elements can include local memory employed during actualexecution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories whichprovide temporary storage of at least some program code in order toreduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storageduring execution.

Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards,displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system eitherdirectly or through intervening I/O controllers.

Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the dataprocessing system to become coupled to other data processing systems orremote printers or storage devices through intervening private or publicnetworks. Modems, cable modems, and Ethernet cards are just a few of thecurrently available types of network adapters.

The description of the present invention has been presented for purposesof illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention embodiments in the form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to explainthe principles of the invention, the practical application, and toenable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the inventionfor various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for notifying an identified person of ateleconference, the method comprising: receiving, by a data processingsystem, data corresponding to an audio record of the teleconferenceduring the teleconference; performing, by the data processing system,pattern recognition on the data during the teleconference; responsive tothe data processing system recognizing in the data a patterncorresponding to an identification of the identified person during theteleconference, contacting, by the data processing system, a firstdevice associated with the identified person during the teleconference;and receiving, by the data processing system, a response related to theaudio record from the first device.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein thecontacting, by the data processing system, the first device associatedwith the identified person during the teleconference only occurs if tagwords are spoken during the teleconference.
 3. The method of claim 1further comprising: conveying, by the data processing system, theresponse to a second device.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the seconddevice is associated with at least one other attendee of theteleconference.
 5. The method of claim 3 wherein the second device isassociated with a person that is not participating in theteleconference.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the response comprisesa message recorded prior to initiation of the teleconference, andwherein the identified person does not join the teleconference.
 7. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the contacting, by the data processing system,the first device associated with the identified person during theteleconference comprises at least one of transmitting an instant messageto an instant message address associated with the identified person,transmitting an email to an email address associated with the identifiedperson, transmitting a text message to a mobile communication deviceassociated with the identified person, and calling a telephone numberassociated with the identified person.
 8. The method of claim 1 whereinthe response comprises at least one of joining the teleconference,transmitting an instant message containing an indicated response,transmitting an email containing an indicated response, transmitting atext message containing an indicated response from a mobilecommunication device, transmitting an audio message from a communicationdevice, transmitting an indication that the identified person will belate, and transmitting an indication that the identified person will notattend the teleconference.
 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:recording, by the data processing system, the teleconference; andsaving, by the data processing system, the recording.
 10. The method ofclaim 9 wherein the recording, by the data processing system, theteleconference comprises recording the teleconference as a podcast, andwherein the method further comprises: replaying, by the data processingsystem, the podcast to the identified person on the first device in realtime as the teleconference is conducted.
 11. The method of claim 1wherein the data processing system is a server computer having installedthereon speech pattern recognition software, wherein the server computeris connected to a network over which the teleconference is being held.12. A computer program product stored on a computer readable storagemedium having instructions embodied thereon that are executable by adata processing system for notifying an identified person of ateleconference, the computer program product comprising: instructionsfor receiving data corresponding to an audio record of theteleconference during the teleconference; instructions for performingpattern recognition on the data during the teleconference; instructionsfor contacting a first device associated with the identified personduring the teleconference in response to recognizing in the data apattern corresponding to an identification of the identified personduring the teleconference; and instructions for receiving a responserelated to the audio record from the first device.
 13. The computerprogram product of claim 12 wherein the instructions for contacting thefirst device associated with the identified person during theteleconference comprise instructions for contacting the first deviceonly if tag words are spoken during the teleconference.
 14. The computerprogram product of claim 12 further comprising: instructions forconveying the response to a second device.
 15. The computer programproduct of claim 14 wherein the second device is associated with one ofanother attendee of the teleconference or a person that is notparticipating in the teleconference.
 16. A data processing system fornotifying an identified person of a teleconference, the data processingsystem comprising: a bus; a communications unit coupled to the bus; astorage device coupled to the bus, wherein the storage device storesinstructions; and a processor coupled to the bus, wherein the processorexecutes the instructions to receive data corresponding to an audiorecord of the teleconference during the teleconference; perform patternrecognition on the data during the teleconference; contact a firstdevice associated with the identified person during the teleconferencein response to recognizing in the data a pattern corresponding to anidentification of the identified person during the teleconference; andreceive a response related to the audio record from the first device.17. The data processing system of claim 16 wherein the processorexecutes the instructions to contact the first device associated withthe identified person during the teleconference only if tag words arespoken during the teleconference.
 18. The data processing system ofclaim 16 wherein the processor further executes the instructions toconvey the response to a second device.
 19. The data processing systemof claim 18 wherein the second device is associated with one of anotherattendee of the teleconference or a person that is not participating inthe teleconference.